Golton is calling for the council to cut parking fees on weekends and Thursday evenings for the last four shopping weeks before Christmas. He said that income from car parks had fallen over the past six months, raising fears that low visitor numbers could deal a blow to traders and shop workers, who are already facing tough economic times.

Golton said:

"I've no doubt that cutting car parking charges would encourage more people to visit city and district centres. We need to give shoppers from this city and beyond yet another reason to spend their money in Leeds."

Parking discussed at executive board

Leeds Conservative leader Andrew Carter

Conservative group leader Andrew Carter warned a recent council executive board meeting that at £5 for two or three hours, fees at some of the council's short-stay car parks were too high - and that people were starting to stay away.

He added:

"I have been warning council officers for months that parking charges were rising at an unsustainable rate and we would kill the goose that laid the golden egg. We have a £1.2bn retail sector in Leeds that needs our support."

Councillors considered a report which looked at the financial health of the council. It showed that one of its income streams was projected to be £1.1 million lower than budgeted 'as a resut of reduced patonage of car parks and the reduction in the number of parking offences'.

Shoppers and traders have their say

I spoke to some shoppers at the Cross Union Street/George Street car park next to Kirkgate Market.

Marion Monks, 52, said she had paid £5 for a three-hour stay:

"I've parked here for years but I have noticed it getting more and more expensive. My sister's started to go to White Rose Centre instead as the parking's free there."

Martin Materson, 49, added:

"It's a rip-off if they're expecting the city centre to compete with centres like Meadowhall where it's free. I'd catch the bus, but it's not much cheaper and much more inconvenient. I'll stick with it for now."

And Shelley Tillett, 33, added:

"I don't come into Leeds as often as I did - I'd rather shop locally in Pudsey or Branley."

A fruit and vegetable stall holder at Kirkgate Market, who asked not to be named, added:

"If it was cheaper to park, we'd get more people coming through the doors, that's for sure. It's not just council car parks, it's the private ones as well. Less well off peopel are beign priced out of the city centre full stop - it's all about the Victoria Quarter and Harvey Nichols crowd for Leeds now."

Council to 'explore possibilities'

Labour Garforth and Swillington councillor Tom Murray

Councillor Tom Murray, executive board member for environmental services said he wanted Leeds to be shoppers' 'number one destination' in the region. He added:

"We are currently exploring possibilities across the whole of the council budget to identify savings following the cuts in funding which has been imposed on us as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

"Car parking is just one of the areas we will be looking at.

"Whatever decision we arrive at with regard to car parking in the city, I would like to assure local businesses that the preservation and promotion of Leeds' economy will be high on the list of considerations. We want Leeds to continue to be the region's number one shopping destination."

"Car parking is a huge worry for traders and customers. In a public consultation event/survey that the council did in 2008 parking came out as the most common response when asked what would make people visit the market more often.

"When we have been out there talking to people this always turns up as a huge worry. One common comment is that what you save from buying in the market (where produce is more affordable) you then spend it on car parking.

"It is very difficult for Leeds Kirkgate Market to compete with free parking in out of town shopping centres. The car park next to the markets is owned by Leeds City Council. There is already a discount scheme for market shoppers but only applies to Wednesday afternoons. Market traders have asked the council for reduced charges (in their April 2010 deputation) but this was rejected by Executive Board on 22 June. Market traders have separately negotiated discounted car park charges with NCP.

"We should, of course, encourage public transport but it is inevitable that some private transport will be needed. The Eastgate development is planning to double the amount of parking space as there is on the council owned parking adjacent to the Market but will probably be more expensive."